2016 Movies Preview Mashup

Happy New Year!

2016 movies in 2:04 minutes:

"Trumbo"

"Are you or have you ever been a member of the communist party?"

That was the question asked by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) at congressional hearings.  And the question doesn't stop there.  They want names; they want people subpoenaed to name names.

"Trumbo" chronicles the life of Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), one of Tinseltown's most successful and highest paid screenwriters in the 1940s and 1950s.  It's a dark time in Hollywood and American history; the Red Scare period post-World War II where thousands and thousands of people suspected for or believed in communism are targeted unjustly.  Some jailed for not committing any crime, but simply for holding such political ideology.  Dalton Trumbo is one of them.

The hostile air blows wide, fanned by an influential gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper, wickedly played by dramatically dressed Helen Mirren ("RED," "The Debt").  With powerful connections, Hedda makes certain that Dalton and his colleagues are fired from and blacklisted by studios, which means that they would never be able to work again as screenwriters.

Lives are in shambles.  Destroyed careers, broken families, ruined friendships and shunned by the paranoid society.  Dalton, for his part of refusing to testify at the hearing, is hauled to jail in contempt of Congress, along with a number of producers, directors and writers.  They're dubbed as the Hollywood Ten.  One particular scene in prison is so disgraceful that it makes your heart stop in disbelief.

After serving 10 months in federal prison, Dalton is released.  Back in the world, life is never the same.  While he's fortunate to have his family intact, he realizes he has to earn a living.  So why not doing the one thing he loves to do most?  Writing. Dalton knows he can write; he just can't put his name on paper or publicly gets paid for it.

Even branded as a traitor, Dalton never lets darkness dims his survivor spirit.  He has a perpetual sense of optimism and idealism, even when the systems or the people fail him.  And he has the smarts to reinvent himself and navigates his way around.

Dalton starts ghostwriting for other writers, working for a fraction of his fees for B-rated producers (John Goodman, Roger Bart) producing movies starring A-list stars.  Even more fascinating, he establishes a homebased screenwriting business, working with other unemployed screenwriters and cranking out script after script.

With the  help of his wife, Cleo (Diane Lane, "Man of Steel," "Under the Tuscan Sun") Dalton operates under multiple pseudonyms and delivers scripts discreetly.  His oldest daughter, Niki (Elle Fanning, "Maleficent," "Super 8"), stands out as the one who pushes him back into the spotlight.  And thankfully, his wife, while loyal, is no wallflower herself.  The family scenes, even with squabbles, are heartwarming.

The shenanigan eventually pays off, with films like "The Roman Holiday," "The Brave One," "The Exodus" and "Spartacus" grace the silver screen, furtively netting Dalton two Oscars.  Whilst the golden statues are undoubtedly a validation of his talent, more importantly, there's an illuminating light at the end of the warped tunnel.   When a famous actor and director back him up, there's no more hiding.

Cranston lifts the film with his performance. One may think that with such a heavy subject, "Trumbo" is a drab movie.  On the contrary, it is oddly delightful.  Dalton Trumbo could have appeared as a caricature had it not been portrayed skillfully and sprightly.  Like the bathtub scenes, where the chain-smoking writer props up a wooden table over the tub and types away, digging in for booze and pills from time to time.

"Trumbo" is a movie about Hollywood, but the importance can never be understated.  A blemished chapter in the American history, it is astonishing how un-American the entire racket was.  The land of the free repressing the freedom of expression and infringing upon its citizens' constitutional rights.  The news reel throughout the picture help transport us back to the era.  Stay through the credit and watch a clip of the real Dalton Trumbo's interview.

If you're into the movies scene, politics and civil liberties, you'll enjoy the film's history lesson, old-fashioned Hollywood feel, witty wordsmithery and joie de vivre spirit.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-trumbo/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/trumbodvd
Book: http://tinyurl.com/trumbobook

"Spotlight"

"You want to sue the Catholic Church?"

That was the implication when the Boston Globe newspaper would like to file a motion to unseal court documents containing allegations of child sexual abuse cases by pedophile priests.  And that is, if the paper trails exist at all. 

The film takes us back to 2001 for a behind-the-scene look at "Spotlight, " a team of professional journalists working tirelessly to uncover the truth, unravel and assemble information piece by piece, yielding chilling revelations that rock one of the oldest and most esteemed institutions, the Catholic Church.  Their year-long investigative work and news story won them a Pulitzer award in 2003. 

The tenacious team, led by Walter 'Robby' Robinson (Michael Keaton), consists of three reporters - Mike  Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo, "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "The Avengers"). Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams, "Sherlock Holmes") and Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James) - reporting to deputy managing editor Ben Bradley Jr. (John Slattery) and the new managing editor, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber, "Pawn Sacrifice," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine"). 

Nobody wants to touch the topic.  The victims are typically vulnerable kids from broken homes, poor families or bad neighborhood, preyed upon by a trusted figure they believe might be sent from God.  Filled with shame and guilt, and discouraged by others, they are reluctant to come forward.  And when they do, its tales are told behind closed doors, in hushed whispers or agonizing tears.  And then covered up, swept under a maze of red tapes and under-the-table settlements with lawyers (Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup).  Many of those kids, robbed of their innocence, turn to bottles, needles or suicides.

Some, perhaps, refuse to believe that evils lurk behind the holy masks.  53% of the readers of the newspaper are Catholic and the influential religion does a lot of charity work for the city.  But everyone knew.  It's a horrific, systematic pattern hidden by a broad network of  religious figures, law enforcement authorities and the legal system at the highest level.  The priestly predators, instead of facing justice, are simply moved from one parish to another, with the full knowledge of the Archbishop and Cardinal (Len Cariou). 

This is more than chasing a story,  making a mark or generating money for the publication.  While it's an explosive expose, it is not sensationalized.  This is a hard-hitting storytelling, conducted with sensibility and acted with remarkable realism.  The film also shows the power of the press.  That when a focus of a story is carefully selected, thoroughly investigated, responsibly corroborated, persistently followed through and timed well for publishing can make a far-reaching and lasting difference.  Parts of the in-depth investigation takes place in the shadow of 9/11 and timing crosses over Christmas.  There's a talk about when the scandalous news should break.

Directed by Tom McCarthy and jointly written with Josh Singer, "Spotlight" not only demonstrates investigative journalism at its finest, but perhaps more importantly, it shines a spotlight on a previously untouchable story.  As the credit rolls, scrolling through a massive list of  cases will send shiver down your spine. 

"Steve Jobs" is one of the best films of 2015.  "Spotlight," not only one of the best, but quite possibly the most important film of the year. 

Book: http://tinyurl.com/spotlightbook

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-spotlight/

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2"

[For write-up and pictures from "The Hunger Games" stars' appearances at Comic-Con and the Conan O'Brien late night show, click here]

The end of the journey.  It sounds so final, yet here we are and it's bittersweet.  When "The Hunger Games" premiered in 2012, with a seemingly simplistic premise, I did not anticipate how deep and absorbing a sci-fi YA adaptation could be.  And how it could maintain its momentum installment after installment.

By now we all know that teenagers forced to fight one another in a life-or-death game hosted by a rich totalitarian government as entertainment only scratches the surface.  The Hunger Games is not a game.  What starts off as a personal story of survival for Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle," "X-Men: First Class") turns her into a symbol of defiance against the cruel system, and a beacon of hope for her impoverished and oppressed people to rise up.

And rise up they did.  The political propaganda machine from 'Mockingjay Part 1" continues from President Coin (Julianne Moore), the dissident leader, who expects Katniss to continue to pose for the cameras and give rousing speeches to rally the rebels.  She's too valuable of an asset to be in the frontline and needs to be seen alive and talking.  Katniss, of course, wants to be on the ground with the troops, to march to the Capitol to kill President Snow (Donald Sutherland, "The Mechanic") herself and end the regime.

On Katniss' side are Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Complicated feelings run deep with both men for different reasons, although wisely never overshadow the main story.  Katniss' purpose in life is never defined by her love interests.

A crack in her lifelong friendship with Gale appears when they come to a head over warfare philosophy and strategy, involving the lives of civilians as a way to win the war.  Peeta is clearly not himself, still suffering from the brainwashing effects by President Snow, leading to emotional confrontations with Katniss.

Katniss eventually sneaks out from President Coin's underground bunker and makes the trek towards Capitol and President Snow's estate, accompanied by several key players.  A treacherous trek, war-torn streets marked by hidden traps, yielding machine gun shots, deadly explosives and lethal liquid, not to mention Capitol's armed peacekeepers and Mutts, ferocious underground creatures.  Lives are lost (a few in gruesome ways), including one so close to Katniss' heart.  The latter is a very quick scene that barely registers, but its impact comes out later and is distressingly felt, emotionally performed by Lawrence.

The solo "Kill Snow" plan doesn't go as planned.  Bloods spill among Capitol civilians, peacekeepers and rebels as Katniss gets closer to the estate.  There's a force working behind the scene unbeknownst to Katniss.  And casualties happen; it's the harsh reality of war.

In the end, Katniss takes a decisive stance to end a vicious cycle of conflict and violence, and ensure that people have the freedom and choice to secure their own future.

One person who is not surprised by Katniss' independent act is Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Ides of March"), the former gamemaker, conveying his hope that Katniss will find peace, something that has eluded her damaged state for so long, when justice is served.

There are times where the movie slogs along, and it feels that 'Mockingjay Part 1' and 'Mockingjay Part 2" could have been combined into a three-hour plus movie without losing much development.

The ending is mildly sweet, as a sunlit scene of a new family closes the saga for good. 'Mockingjay Part 2' is not as staggeringly scorching as the previous installments, but it is a solid, solemn conclusion to a brutal journey of an ordinary girl, a reluctant heroine who inspires and unites a nation in a dystopian time.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/mockingjay2dvd
Book: http://tinyurl.com/hungergamesnovel

Upcoming Movies: February 2016

[Originally posted on 1/30/16]

February 5
"Hail, Caesar!" (http://www.hailcaesarmovie.com/) - A Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.

"The Choice" (http://www.thechoice.movie/) - Travis and Gabby first meet as neighbors in a small coastal town and wind up in a relationship that is tested by life's most defining events.

February 12
"Deadpool" (http://deadpool.com/) - A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and adopts the alter ego Deadpool.

"How to be Single" (http://howtobesinglemovie.com/) - New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.

February 19
"Race" (http://www.focusfeatures.com/race) - Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.

"Shut In" - A heart-pounding thriller about a widowed child psychologist who lives in an isolated existence in rural New England. Caught in a deadly winter storm, she must find a way to rescue a young boy before he disappears forever.

February 26
"Kidnap" - A mother stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.

"Steve Jobs"

I wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing "Steve Jobs."  Notwithstanding that I wanted to catch a noteworthy film before it disappeared from local theaters, there was a sense of deja-vu, considering that "Jobs," just premiered a mere two years ago.  It was mediocre, but it had some high notes and I enjoyed it.

But having heard critical acclaims of "Steve Jobs" and personally admired Aaron Sorkin's screenplay on "The Social Network," I would make it to the theater sooner or later.  So glad I did.

"Musicians play the instruments.  I play the orchestra," said Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender, "X-Men" series, "Prometheus") in response to a pointed question why he gets all the glory since he's not an engineer or designer, and that he takes all the credit for the brilliant and tireless work from the people who devote themselves to him.

Not an ordinary biopic, the Danny Boyle-directed "Steve Jobs" is uniquely structured like a play, a three-act play before three key product launches; Macintosh (1984), NeXT (1988) and iMac (1998).

Each act provides a fascinating insight into the iconic man behind the black turtleneck.  In the eyes of the world, we know who Steve Jobs is, Apple co-founder.  One-of-a-kind visionary.  Driven problem-solver.  Supremely creative thinker.  Marvelous marketer.  He's a legendary innovator with a keen eye for intuitive design and miniscule details, who showed people things they never imagined or knew they needed or wanted.

Behind the scene and within his inner circle, Steve Jobs is a mercurial figure.  Self-aggrandizing, antagonizing, calculating and condescending control freak.  It is an ironic realization to see how a man with an innate ability to visualize and understand how people think and want are not able to connect with the people closest to him.  A paradox, Steve Jobs is out-of-the-box thinker, yet out-of-touch with human connection.

The backstage drama is a cacophony filled with farcical facades about product features, room preparations, and intense confrontations about relationships where each act ends with a phenomenal, cult-like mania when the man of the hour seizes the stage.

It could feel a little repetitive, but the rapid-fire dialogue, razor-sharp script, deft direction and fast-paced editing will keep you fixated onto the screen.  The stakes are elevated and emotions are running at a fever pitch.

Certain scenes are crisscrossed between present happenings and flashbacks, paralleling the heightened situations. The cinematography is distinguished; each act shot differently, ranging from painterly in the initial act to pristine in the final one, with attention to lighting, composition and reflection.

The key players power the movie with electrifying performances through those intense confrontations.  His former girlfriend and mother of his child, a woman who refuses to be silenced, Chrisann Brennan (Katherine Waterson); his daughter, Lisa (played at different ages by Perla Haney-Jardine, Ripley Sobo, Makenzie Moss) humanizing him, someone whom he denied paternity for years; Andy Hertzfeld (Michael Stuhlbarg, "Pawn Sacrifice"), a degraded key member of his early development team; John Sculley (Jeff Daniels), CEO of Apple, an experienced business executive lured from Pepsi, which turns into a father figure in some respect; Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen, "Paul"), Apple co-founder and lifelong frenemy; and perhaps most prominently, Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet, "The Divergent " series ), the head of marketing and long-suffering confidant and right-hand woman who stands by and stands up to Steve Jobs when the moments count.

Last but not the least, the man at the center of it all, Fassbender.  While he doesn't bear the physical resemblance to the real Steve Jobs (except toward the end), he captures the core of the controversial figure with bravura.

"Steve Jobs" is masterfully orchestrated like a spectacular theatrical play in a grand opera house, complete with orchestral music.  An amazing showmanship, it's one of the best films of the year.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-steve-jobs/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/stevejobsdvd

"99 Homes"

"It's not your home anymore."  The words that would cut any homeowner's heart.  It's any family's nightmare, the loss of the American dream.

The blood-splattered opening scene where a homeowner ends his life than being dragged out of his home sets a unnerving tone for the film.  When the market crashed and housing bubble burst in 2008, thousands of homes went into foreclosure.  This is a fictional story, yet it will feel all-too-familiar and hit close to home for many.

Dennis Nash (Andrea Garfield,  "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Social Network"), a young single father, along with his son (Noah Lomax) and mother (Laura Dern), find themselves having merely minutes to gather their most important belongings and get out of their lifelong home.  They're being told that they're now trespassing.

Serving the eviction notice is a real estate shark, Rick Carver (Michael Shannon, "Man of Steel," "Premium Rush").  Not merely serving a notice, Rick is manipulative and merciless, evicting people from their homes coldly and swiftly, profiting from their miseries and legal loopholes.

When a cleanup job opens up unexpectedly in one of the foreclosed houses, Rick presents Dennis, an unemployed construction worker and skillful handyman, with a bottom-of-the-barrel opportunity.  Dennis begrudgingly takes it up as a means to put food on the table for his  homeless family.

One simple job opens up a world of shady dealings.  Rick justifies and the stealing and scamming from the government and banks as being no different than the people who buy homes they can't afford and are not able to pay back.  As he plainly puts it, "America doesn't bail out losers."  It's a rigged system made for and by winners.  Of course, there are those honest, hard-working people who fall on hard times due to the recession.  And people who get snared in the reckless lending practices and don't understand what it is they're signing on the dotted lines or told to do certain things by those in charge.

Dennis learns fast, rises to the top and makes real cash.  He cuts a deal with Rick that he will do his bidding as a way to get his family home back.  Internally conflicted with transparent anguish, Dennis the evictee becomes the very person serving eviction notices and getting people out to the curb.  One heartwrenching scene after another inexorably play out.

While the details of the latter dealings may not be entirely clear than the earlier scams, it is deeply distressing as livelihoods, and in some cases, people's lives are at stake.  Dennis is left with a choice to stand up or turns a blind eye.  Garfield is exceptional in conveying Dennis' crisis of conscience.

There's no Hollywood ending and it does feel less satisfying, but just like in real life, there's not always a happy ending.  Directed and co-written by Ramin Bahrani, "99 Homes" is a dreary story worth telling, unfolding through realistic, powerful acting all around.

While no "Inside Job" (a must-see documentary), "99 Homes" is a sobering reality and concrete byproduct of our time.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-99-homes/

"The Walk"

Talk about walking the talk.

On a clear summer day in 1974, one man crosses the immense space between the World Trade Center towers.  The only man who has ever accomplished and will ever accomplish such feat.

Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Lincoln," "Premium Rush," "The Dark Knight Rises," "Inception") narrates the film, perched on  the Statue of Liberty, taking us back to that glorious day.  Gordon-Levitt, sporting a French accent, plays the role with believable zeal.

In the earlier days in France, French street performer Philippe charms a musician, Annie Allix (Charlotte Le Bon) with his flair and quirkiness in the streets of Paris.  Annie becomes his biggest cheerleader to pursue his impossible dream of the high-wire act.

From the trees to the light poles to the grand Notre Dame walk, the time is right at last for Philippe to go to New York.  The construction of towers is almost finished.  He's also come to learn the ropes of being a tightrope walker from a circus patriarch, Ben Kingsley ("Iron Man 3").  More than knowing about the right cables, bolts or knots, and obviously having the extreme balancing ability, it's also about having the right mental attitude.

With Annie as his first "accomplice," a photographer and a friend, Philippe recruits several New Yorkers, intrigued enough by his insane obsession and ambition, to set the stage for the high-stake wire-walk.

Played like a heist, the team works together covertly; researching the specs of the towers, smuggling and testing equipment, all the while trying to evade security from getting caught.  The all-night rooftop-rigging pays off when the sun comes up and Philippe realizes his dream.  An illegal, crazy dangerous stunt.

Must-see in 3-D, the height and depth dimensions are absolutely incredible, allowing you to experience the wonder of it all.  As if you're there, witnessing or  walking alongside Philippe, marveling in the sights, feeling the rustling breeze and hearing the traffic noise from a distant.  110-story, 1,350-feet tall.

What a magical walk it was.  There are moments that will take your breath away.  From the first moment when Philippe balances his body, standing with one foot on the ledge of the tower and the other on the wire to finally stepping on with both feet.  No safety net or harness.  And he doesn't just walk across.  Suspended in the air, he kneels and salutes, feeling the joy and expressing his gratitude. Sitting and looking down in awe.  Lying down and looking up in peace.  And turning around, shuffling his balance bar in daring mischief, again and again.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie is filmed in a whimsical, hyper-realism style, reminding me a bit of Martin Scorsese's "Hugo."  It is no fable, however, as "The Walk" is based on a true story.  And the final scene, before everything fades away, is a shining homage to one of America's greatest landmarks.

The greatest artistic, daredevil coup of the century is gracefully breathtaking and magnificently elegant.  "The Walk" giddily ascends the skies and reaches for the clouds.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-the-walk/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/thewalkvideo
Book: http://tinyurl.com/thewalkbook

Upcoming Movies: January 2016

[Originally posted on 1/01/16]

January 8
"Anomalisa" (http://www.anomalisa.com/) - A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.

"Anesthesia" - Multiple lives intersect in the aftermath of the violent mugging of a university philosophy professor.

January 15
"The Benefactor" - A philanthropist meddles in the lives of newly-married couples in an attempt to relive his past.

January 22
"The 5th Wave" (http://www.the5thwaveiscoming.com/) - Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother.

"The Boy" - An American nanny is shocked that her new English family's boy is actually a life-sized doll. After violating a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive.

"Synchronicity" (http://www.magnetreleasing.com/synchronicity/) - When a physicist invents a machine that can fold space-time, a rare flower appears from the future. He discovers that the flower lies in the hands of a mysterious girl. He travels back in time and uncovers a surprising truth about the machine, the girl and his own reality.

January 29
"The Finest Hours" - The Coast Guard makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952.

"Kung Fu Panda 3" (http://www.dreamworks.com/kungfupanda/) - Continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness," Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home.

"The Martian"

Two years post the groundbreaking "Gravity" and a year after the stellar "Interstellar," along comes "The Martian," based on a best-selling book by Andy Weir and directed by Ridley Scott ("Prometheus").

During an exploration in Mars, a fierce sandstorm forces a team of astronauts, led by commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Debt") to abort their mission and evacuate the base.  Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon, "Elysium," "The Adjustment Bureau") is impaled by a satellite antenna, left stranded and presumed dead.

Mark is injured but makes it back to the base safely.  Alone and alive, he quickly realizes his predicament.  Millions of miles away from home, four years until another manned mission, severed communication and supplies to last only for 31 days.  The odds are overwhelmingly unfavorable.  He could suffocate in a toxic air, freeze to death, or die out of starvation or thirst.  But instead of giving up, Mark decides to survive by making the best with what he has, while attempting to establish contact with NASA.

What happens next is what distinguishes "The Martian" with the other space movies.  This one is rooted in 'hard' science, courses of actions done based on real science and technology.  In a hostile, arid planet and encased in solitude, Mark uses his expertise as a botanist and resourcefulness to generate oxygen, create heat, produce water, grow crops and ration his limited food.  And perhaps just as important, not losing his sense of optimism and wry humor to keep his sanity and spirit alive.  In an overlong movie (2 hours and 21 minutes) filled with 'science speak' and solo time, Damon does an admirable job in moving things along in an engaging fashion.

On Earth, the wheels start turning when NASA realizes that Mark is still alive, even as officials try to keep the news from his teammates, en route home, still in space.  Each communication brings both clarity and confusion.  Even if they're able to build and launch a supplies craft, time is not on their side.  A setback occurs in Mars where Mark is no longer able to harvest more plants, which means he will run out of food.

Nobody is giving up, however.  A lively group of really smart, passionate people working together tirelessly to develop solutions to rescue Mark.  It is not without discord.  It's a matter of highly calculated risk; it could pay off big time or fail catastrophically, which would cost more lives.  And to a lesser extent, a public outcry and end of the space programs.

Meanwhile, when news reach his crewmates, the rest of the astronauts pledge to launch their own daring mission, severely risky as it may be and against the officially sanctioned plan to bring one of their own home with them.  The last stretch is a tense scene involving a remotely controlled, open-top capsule and spacecraft trying to make the right trajectory toward each other with astronauts hurling into space.

Since comparisons are inevitable, it's worth mentioning that "Gravity," "Interstellar" and "The Martian" are very different movies.  "Gravity" is a singular space survival tale and as close you could probably get to being in space.  "Interstellar" (also starring Damon and Chastain), a celestial tapestry of space exploration and heartfelt human story, is clearly a fantasy adventure with the time--bending element.  "The Martian" is a space procedural drama, looking like a real planetary operation gone wrong in a not-too-distant future, plausible survival and rescue mission somewhere near the realms of possibility.  Interestingly, it's not a grim film.  The filmmaker takes a unusual approach, telling the story with a lighter touch and air of levity.

Drawing upon science, intelligence, collaboration and imagination, it shows how the brightest minds can accomplish great things together.  "The Martian" is a crowdpleaser, hopefully one that may inspire the next generation of space explorations.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-the-martian/

Book: http://tinyurl.com/themartianbook

2015: Year in Movies

[Originally posted on 12/10/15]

A look back to 2015... hundreds of movie releases in 6:39 minutes.

"Bridge of Spies"

[Originally posted on 10/18/15]

In 1957, a New York insurance lawyer, James Donovan (Tom Hanks, "Saving Mr. Banks," "Cloud Atlas"), gets pulled back into criminal law, called to represent an accused Soviet spy, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance).

James, an honest, principled man finds that justice can be relative, even as America showing to the world that we provide due process and capable defense for everyone.  He presses on with integrity, sticking to the principles of the U.S. constitution, doing his job as best as he can even with pressures mounting from the system and the public to seal his client's fate.

On the other side of the continent, an American spy plane went down and its pilot, Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is captured by the Soviet Union.  Just as the Berlin Wall is going up, an American student, Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) lands himself on the wrong side of the wall and gets thrown in prison.

The U.S. government would like James, acting as a private citizen, to negotiate a swap, Rudolf for Francis.   James takes him upon himself to add Frederic into the mix; 2-for-1 exchange.  It's a lone clandestine mission that could go wrong in many ways.  A skilled negotiator, James intuitively understands his opponents and pushes the right buttons to make things happen in tricky political waters and hostile climate.

This is a story about doing the right thing even when it doesn't suit your purpose and having respect for people for doing their job honorably for their country even when you don't agree with what they do.

Not as tension-filled as one might think, it's a serious slow-burn, surprisingly sprinkled with mordant humor. Based on real events and helmed by Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln"), "Bridge of Spies" is classily crafted, directed and acted.  Steady, measured and assured historical Cold War drama.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-reviews-bridge-of-spies-and-the-gift/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bridgeofspiesdvd

Book: http://tinyurl.com/bridgeofspiesbook

"Everest"

Everest.  A name that invokes majesty of nature and human accomplishment for those who have conquered it.

But human beings are not meant to survive at the cruising altitude of a 747.  Some have made it. Some others, not so lucky.  "Everest" is based on a true story, a 1996 expedition where eight climbers died, caught in a deadly blizzard on the descend down the 29,020-feet mountain.  Unpredictable harsh weather and human errors make a fatal combination.

It's a big ensemble, so except for a few characters, you don't really get to know them and invest in them, which makes the movie far less impactful.  It's often hard to tell who's who underneath the bulked-up mountain gears.

Best seen in IMAX 3-D, the movie takes full advantage of the format, showcasing the wondrous rock-and-ice covered landscape and extreme elements.  Whipping winds and fierce snow flurries battering frail bodies.   Sudden glacier movement putting lives at risk.  You'll feel the freeze in the air and deterioration of the human condition.   Unfortunate reality aside, it is a spectacle absolutely meant to be seen on the big screen.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/everestvideo

"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials"

Just like the first one in the series, "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is better than it looks.  Director Wes Ball brings back Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his Glader friends (Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster) for another awesome adventure in the post-apocalyptic world.

Following their escape from the Glade and the Maze and mysterious organization called W.K.C.D. (read: wicked), the Gladers are initially grateful for having been rescued.  They're taken by their rescuers to a heavily guarded facility and meet the other escapees, provided shower, clean clothes, food and bed.  Amidst the secured environment and assurance by the head of the facility (Aiden Gillen), something is off, however.

A loner, Aris (Jacob Lofland) flags Thomas and together they make an unsavory discovery.  They are not safe after all.  The kids are being kept alive temporarily for a reason.  The Gladers, joined Ares and a few new kids (Dexter Draden, Alexander Flores) make a run for the outside world in the nick of time.

That outside world is the scorch, a ruined city surrounded and partially immersed in sands.  The group seeks shelter in a dark and dilapidated structure.  They scour the building for things they could equip themselves to make their desolate trek to the mountains in the hopes of joining the Right Arm, a resistance movement, and finding a safe haven.  The light switches on, but before they could breathe a sigh of relief, some things are coming out of the woodwork.  The undead.  If "The Maze Runner" has Grievers, "The Scorch Trials" has Cranks, which are just as terrifying.  They escape, but not without one of their own infected with the Flare virus.

Daylight breaks and the Gladers make their perilous journey across an arid, then unpredictably stormy desert.  They run into a compound filled with another cluster of survivors, find themselves in another trouble, make allies (Rosa Salazar, Giancario Esposito) and barely make it out alive after the compound is attacked.  The group gets separated before eventually reunited.  But not without more trials and twists, physically and emotionally.

The set pieces are vast and varied.  Actions relentless.  Sprinting, sliding, falling, climbing, leaping and dangling for dear lives, navigating rubbles and tunnels.  Not to mention getting bitten, shot at and strung up.  There's one particularly thrilling sequence involving a pursuit and struggle with a Crank on a precarious glass piece of a crumbled skyscraper hundreds of feet in the air.  Another one is the vines-covered Cranks.  The jump scares are used effectively.

O'Brien shows charisma and commitment to the role.  Thomas is smart, curious and quick on his feet.  A natural-born leader with a combination of instinct and ferocity.  Even as he's unsure of  what's to come, he moves forward with determination.

While "Scorch Trials" is mostly an action movie, it maintains the underlying theme of clash of ideals.  In the first installment, between safety and comfort versus risk and freedom.  Here we're faced with a moral dilemma as well.  At what point human sacrifice is no longer worth it?  What about if you truly believe it's for the greater good?

I look forward to the next round of scares and thrills.  The third installment in the trilogy, "The Death Cure" will be released on February 17, 2017.  It should be worth the long wait.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/movies/movie-review-maze-runner-the-scorch-trials/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/scorchtrialsvideo
Book: http://tinyurl.com/mazerunnerbook

Upcoming Movies: December 2015

[Originally posted on 11/29/15]

December 4
"Macbeth" (http://www.macbeth-movie.com/) - Macbeth, a Thane of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

"Youth" - A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.

December 11
"In the Heart of the Sea" (http://www.intheheartoftheseamovie.com/) - Based on the 1820 event, a whaling ship is preyed upon by a sperm whale, stranding its crew at sea for 90 days, thousands of miles from home.

"The Big Short" (http://www.thebigshortmovie.com/) - Four outsiders in the world of high-finance who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s decide to take on the big banks for their lack of foresight and greed.

December 18
"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" (http://www.starwars.com/the-force-awakens/) - A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas and set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

December 25 
"Joy" - Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.

"Point Break" (http://pointbreakmovie.com/) - A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists. "Point Break" is inspired by the classic 1991 hit.

"The Revenant" (http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-revenanthttp://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-revenant) - In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.

"Pawn Sacrifice"

From 9/09/15 press screening: 
(The Coast News 9/25/15 print edition)

I dig biopics.  They inform, inspire, enlighten and entertain.  And they put actors to the test and boast some of the best acting.  Consider in recent years, "The Imitation Game" (father of modern computing Alan Turing), "The Theory of Everything" (astrophysicist Stephen Hawking), "The Wolf of Wall Street" (stockbroker Jordan Belfort), "Rush" (Formula One race car drivers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda), "Lincoln" (President Abraham Lincoln), "The King's Speech" (King George VI).   "Pawn Sacrifice," directed by Edward Zwick, is no different.

A paranoid Bobby Fischer (Tobey Maguire, "The Amazing Spider-Man," "The Great Gatsby") is shown frantically tearing his room apart for bugs, fearing that he's being watched and listened to by the Soviets.  Flashing back to his boyhood, we see a troubled kid from Brooklyn with a hostile relationship with his mother, Regina (Robin Weigert).  A single confrontation so intense reveals a deep-seated anger for being kept in the dark about the identity of his father.  His childhood scenes also show his neurotic tendencies, including being severely bothered by the slightest noise.  Every sound is grandly amplified.  

Singularly obsessed with chess, Bobby is self-taught.  He continues to play and beats his rivals in one  match after another, gaining prominence by becoming the youngest U.S. chess champion at the age of 14.  A child prodigy,  he pretty much raises himself.  He maintains an arm's-length relationship with his sister, Joan (Lily Rabe).

With his star rising, Bobby attracts the attention of a big-name lawyer, Paul Marshall (Michael Stuhlbarg), who offers his services pro-bono so that he could help Bobby navigating terms for competitions around the world.  A priest who once beat Bobby, Father Bill Lombardy (Peter Saarsgard), tags along to provide mental support and assist in strategic preparations prior to each match  With each movement, there are so many possibilities and risks.  

Paul and Father Bill both play a role in keeping Bobby, often manic with paranoia and delusions, focused and in check.  Although it's inevitable that when Bobby's behavior grows more erratic and demands more outrageous, they become more of an enabler, particularly Paul.  At one point he has the toughest task of all, making sure that Bobby actually shows up for a high-profile match.  Highly volatile and combustible, Bobby has no qualm of pulling out at the last minute or walking out of a match.  

Facing the press and the cameras, there's narcissistic sarcasm in Bobby's responses, as far as his perception about himself and his opponents.  Humorous as they may sound, he truly believes those twisted views as reality.  

Bobby eventually faces Boris Spassky (Liev Schreiber), the Russian grandmaster, first in California and later in Iceland.  In contrast with his hot-mess and anxious persona, Boris sports a cool look and silent confidence.  A man of a few words, he's always surrounded by an entourage and gets the best amenities, to the utter dismay of Bobby.  

The world championship in 1972 in Iceland is the focus of all championships and it is as tense as it can get.  The scenes are optimally shot, zooming in on the chess clock, maneuvers of pieces on the board, facial reactions and body gestures of the actors.  News footage from the past are interspersed with the games.  You don't necessarily need to know the rules of the game in order to become absorbed in the film.  Maguire personifies the polarizing figure and does it in spades.  And kudos to the filmmaker, as chess, unlike a physical sport, is not easy to translate to the big screen,

The championship is held at a time where America needs a public boost the most, amidst the Cold War, Vietnam and Watergate.  Bobby delivers that and chess mania sweeps the nation and the world.  As controversial as he is, he becomes an idol.  

The closing scenes show the real Bobby onscreen and flashes of his life events, deteriorating post winning.   In the end,  the greatest opponent of the greatest chess player in history is not Spassky or any other grandmaster.  It's Bobby Fischer himself.  He's a pawn of his own inner demon.  

Brisk and blistering, "Pawn Sacrifice" is a captivating character study about a prodigy, player,  champion and pawn.  

Comic-Con 2015: Fall TV Pilots

[Updated 9/13/15]

[For a blast from the past, check out:

http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/p/comiccon-wondercon.html]

[For 2015 feature film highlights, check out:

http://www.sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2015/07/comic-con-2015-feature-film-highlights.html]

Daytime excitement continued through the night.  Like the inaugural year in 2014, DC Entertainment put on a grand show for fans. 

Ian Somerhalder emceed the superhero panels.  Last year's emcee and star of "Arrow," Stephen Amell, stole the stage by appearing the Arrow himself, in a newly tweaked costume for season 4.  The costume has more of an 'armored' look, more in line with the Green Arrow outfit in the comics  The show that catapulted CW into superhero stratosphere is still going strong after three years.  Next up was "The Flash."  The highest-rated CW show will return for a sophomore year.  I was awestruck last year by the premiere and am psyched to see it continue this fall.  Another show premiering last year that got renewed was "Gotham." Cast and crew from the shows appeared on their respective panel, talking about their characters and developments for the upcoming season.

If Marvel has the Avengers on the movie front, CW will showcase a superhero ensemble show with "Legends of Tomorrow." Rip Hunter, a time-traveler who has seen the future, assembles a legendary team consisting of an eclectic mix or heroes and anti-heroes - Dr. Martin Stein (the other half of Firestorm), Atom, White Canary (resurrected from Black Canary), Jay Jackson, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Heat Wave and Captain Cold.   Several of them have appeared in either "Arrow" or "The Flash").  It would be interesting to see how the stories might intertwine in the CW multi-verse.  In its debut, the team's first order of business is to stop Vandall Savage, a 6,000-year old immortal, from dominating the world. 

Last but not least, the highly anticipated new show, "Supergirl" soared with a lovely pilot. 

"Supergirl" (CBS; October 26, 2015)

Making a show about Supergirl carries an inherent challenge, which is how to create stories that do away with her famous cousin, Superman/Kal-El.  The show's solution is to mention him as a distant background story and have him appear in a shadow as an acknowledgement of his existence.  But this is clearly a Supergirl/Kara Zor-El story. 

Right before Krypton imploded, 12-year old Kara was sent to Earth following baby Kal-El's pod to help care for  him in the new planet.  The explosion sent Kara's pod off course and had her trapped in the Phantom Zone for years.  By the time she arrived, Kal-El has grown up and no longer needs her care.  He placed her with a scientist family, the Danvers, so that she could grow up with a normal childhood as he did. 

Kara did, along with her adopted sister, Alex.  For as long as she could remember, Kara has always tried her best to suppress her superpowers and blended in as an ordinary girl, if not socially awkward and quirky.  Now 24, Kara works as a personal assistant for a media mogul, a Devil-Wears-Prada figure like.  A completely unassuming life, having a demanding boss and dealing with a crush from a colleague and crushing on a new co-worker, James Olsen (the Jimmy Olsen from the Daily Planet). 

When Alex's plane is in danger of crashing, Kara makes a major life-saving decision (an outstanding action sequence) and shows her true color to the world.  A mysterious female hero is born and capturing the interest of the public and the media.

Melissa Benoist is adorably on point with the scenes following her emergence as an involuntary, yet enthusiastic newly minted superhero.  There are supporters and doubters in her inner circle.  Riddled with doubt and enthusiasm, Kara is both strong and exposed. With an honest desire to help people, she's learning to utilize her powers and embrace her higher purpose in life. 

Kara's life becomes more complicated when her movement is tracked by DEO (Department of Extra-Normal Operations), an organization that keeps tabs on extraterrestrial forces.  At the same time, an enemy that followed her from the Phantom Zone, made himself known.  And he's not alone. Kara will have her hands full in no time.

If "Arrow" is dark and gritty and "The Flash" flashy and light (although not without dramatic  moments), "Supergirl" is a league of its own, brimming with bright optimism and mirth, featuring a big-hearted superhero that emanates innocent charm and wholesome goodness.  Somehow, the cheery, comedy aspect works.      

The year of "The Flash" went fast and fabulous.  I hope "Supergirl" will fly high and I look forward to it being on my weekly viewing schedule. 

***

"Blindspot" (NBC; September 21, 2015)

Stepping out of superhero central, I was pretty enthralled with "Blind Spot," a primetime pilot of mystery, crime procedural drama and action. 

The opening scene is nothing short of intriguing.  A naked amnesiac found inside of a duffle bag in the middle of Times Square.  Her whole body is covered in fresh tattoos, including a tattoo of a name of an FBI agent on her back. Mind erased, her body is full of clues.  Images, numbers, symbols and words as puzzle pieces that would help the FBI to map their steps to solve crimes, or perhaps lead them to something bigger. 

What makes it the more intriguing is the mysterious woman herself.  Naturally looking and feeling lost, scared and vulnerable, it's quickly revealed through a series of incidents that Jane Doe is a force to be reckoned with.  Strong, sharp, determined with surprising capabilities that would make her a treasured asset to the agency.  Her burgeoning connection to the FBI agent in question merits further exploration.  A glimpse of her backstory ends the pilot on a curious note that would make you wanting more. 

There's a lot to be explored and discovered here, which should earn "Blindspot" a regular viewing spot.  Hopefully the show can maintain the intrigue and momentum by balancing crime-of-the-week episodes with its underlying mystery.   

***

Another show I'm excited about is "Limitless" (CBS, September 22, 2015).  The story revolves around one man who gains the full capacity of his brain and extends his capabilities beyond imagination. Yep, it's based on the thrilling "Limitless" movie (what would it be like to become the perfect version of ourselves?) in 2011 and co-produced by its star, Bradley Cooper.

It's going to be an amazing autumn!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/tv/from-comic-con-2015-preview-of-fall-tv-pilots/

[click to enlarge pictures]

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E"

From 8/03/15 press screening:

Coming into the screening of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E," I didn't know what to expect.  Unlike "Mission Impossible," I never saw the original TV series in the 1960s and the only recollection I had of a Guy Ritchie's film was "Sherlock Holmes."  That was fun, so at least that was my hope for this movie.  As it turns out, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" was beyond that.

Henry Cavill ("Man of Steel") and Armie Hammer ("J. Edgar," "The Social Network") play former adversaries-turned-buddy spies to the hilt.  It started out on the rough side.  While both have colorful backgrounds and special talents, they're polar-opposites.  Cavill is Napoleon Solo, a former art thief turned CIA agent, charming and cavalier in his ways.  Hammer is Illya Kuryakin, a volatile yet steadfast KGB operative.

The American agent and Russian operative, when introduced by their respective handler that they would be working together as partners, make it clear that they're only doing this for the greater good.  Sizing each other up, they try to kill each other on their first day of working together.  Their joint mission is to infiltrate a criminal network and dismantle its plan to misuse technology and propagate nuclear weapons, subverting the power balance during the Cold War period.

Their link to the mysterious network is an East German auto mechanic, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander, "Ex-Machina"), the estranged daughter of a vanished Nazi rocket scientist.  Gaby reaches out to her  uncle, Rudi (Sylvester Groth), at a splashy event under the pretense that she would like to find her father and see him since she's getting married.  Illya is the groom-to-be, pretending to be a Russian architect in love.  The uncle is connected to a power-hungry couple in the nuclear venture, Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki) and Alexander Vinciguerra (Luca Calvani).  Between the two, Victoria makes an impression as the brain behind the operations.  Napoleon crashes the event, casts his eyes on the icy villainess, and gains her interest through his sleight of hand tricks and debonair manner.  

A gleeful spy game ensues.  Playing hide-and-seek and racing against time, there are hidden agenda, deception and double-crosses.  Sparks also fly among the trio.  The tough and whip-smart Gaby clashes with Illya, although there may be a different kind of spark there.  Flamboyant Napoleon and intense Illya butt head over methods and tricks to get the upper hand over their enemy.  What makes this slyly funny is the glut of dark, situational humor, including quick-witted banters and deadpan dialogues with hilarious happenings in the background.  Irony at its best.  All acted well by the principal actors.

Speaking of happenings, it's got plenty of actions.  A riotous sequence that opens the film with a bang, involving an elaborate street chase, spin and shootouts,  narrow alleys and narrower escape in the dark of the night.  Electrifying torture chair.  Speedboat trailing, truck crash-landing and boat sinking.  Off-roading pursuit with a vintage motorbike, modified jeep and ATV.

The movie glossily captures the vibe of the era with flair.  Old-fashioned elegance in couture, art and architecture against contrasting color palettes, cool in Berlin and  warm in Italy.  Music that is distinctively impactful, dramatically enhancing the ambiance and action, often dominant in silent and split-screen scenes.

The film ends with a boom, an official team formation, and a potential for a sequel.  It looks like U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command of Law and Enforcement) is in business.  This period espionage is filled with comedic beats, intrigue and style.  "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." is stylish, flashy and fun.

https://www.thecoastnews.com/film-review-the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-is-flashy-stylish-and-fun/

http://tinyurl.com/themanuncle

Upcoming Movies: November 2015

[Originally published on 10/31/15]

November 6
"Spectre" (http://www.007.com/) - A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind Spectre.

"The Peanuts Movie" (http://www.peanutsmovie.com/) - Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.

November 13
"By the Sea" - Set in France during the mid-1970s, a former dancer and her American writer husband travel the country together. They seem to be growing apart, but when they linger in one quiet, seaside town they begin to draw close to some of its more vibrant inhabitants, such as a local bar/café-keeper and a hotel owner.

"The 33" - Based on the real-life event, when a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days.

November 20
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" (https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/mockingjaypart2/) - After being symbolized as the "Mockingjay", Katniss Everdeen and District 13 engage in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol.

"Secret in Their Eyes" (http://secretintheireyes.movie/) - A tight-knit team of rising investigators, along with their supervisor, is suddenly torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered.

November 27
"The Good Dinosaur" (http://movies.disney.com/the-good-dinosaur) - An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus makes an unlikely human friend.

"The Danish Girl" (https://www.workingtitlefilms.com/films/view/film/124) - The remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.